Apparatus for purification of water by electrical means.



mt 1' meer UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

JAMES S. ZERBE, OF NEXV YORK, N. '1'.

AlPARATUS FOR PUlill'lCA'TlOll 0F WATER BY ELECTRICAL HANS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 787,195, dated August 9, 1904.

Applicxtiun'led mi!! 2, 1994. Berici He. 396,080. (No modal.)

To all whomzl ma y concern. I

lle it known that I, Janes S. Zune. a citizen of the United St.'\tcs,'residi:g at New York, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkdiave invented certainncwimd use ful lmprovements in Apparatus` for Purifimltion of Water by Electrical Means, of which thc l-followinf,r is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and eflicient apparatus for the purification of water; and it pertains to mechanism in which electricity is used as the agent for purifying, whereby not only the dynamic effect of the current is utilized, but in which t-he ozone generated is employed as an oxidizing agent. The mechanism for this purpose utilizes, first, an electrical chamber; second, an ozonizing-chamber, through which the water flows; third, au ozone-receiver for the gas, and, fourth, a filter for separating the impurities from the water. The arrangement of these chambers is such that the water enters at the lower end of the electrical chamber and flows upwardly and is thcn'convcyed to the l lower end of the filtering-chamber and in like manner flows upwardly through this chamber. At the same time provision is made by means of a pipe to convey the ozone-gas generated, or a portion of it, to the interior of the filter ing-cylinder, whereby the ozone is enabled to act on the water more efficiently than would otherwise be the case, all of which will now be set forth in detail.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is a central vertical section of thc apparatus for purifying water.

2 represents the electrical chamber containing therein the electrodes 3 4, the anodes 3 bein'g connected together at their lower ends by a bar 5 and the cathodes at their upper ends by a bar 6. At the lower end of this chamber is a pipe connection 7 for the water-supply. Above this chamber 2 is another vertically disposed chamber 8, through which thewater passes and which is herein termed the ozonizing-chamber. I so designate it herein to distinguish it from the electrical chamber below',- because while, in fact, the chamber 2 also is in a certain sense. an organizing-cham ber it contains the'ozone-generator, whereas the other chamber merely acts as n disseminas tor for the ozone. Surmonnting the chamber 8 and connected therewith by a small pipe 9 is a receiver l0, from the upper-end of whichis u pipo 11, leading to the filter` as will be hereinafterexplained. A pipe 12 also leads from the, upper end of the chamber 8 to the filter, and a pipe 13, having avalve 14, also leads` from the reservoir to serve for ltesting purposes and also to use as a vent when emptying the chambers 2 8.

The filtering-cylinder 15 is vertically disposed and has at its lower end a base 16 to ref ceive the pipe 12, which leads from the ozroni-zing-chamber 8. A valve 17 is placed in the lineof this pipe, as shown.l The upper end of the cylinder 15 has a removable head 1S, which. l

has a cup-shaped depression from which the' dischargepipe 19 emerges. A l

The cylinder which performs the filtering operati-on comprises an axial pipe Q0, perfo rated at intervals, asshown at 21. The lower end of this pipe rests in a suitable socket-in the base at 22. and the pipe 11 from the ozone` receiver connects therewith, as shown at 23. A closure-plate 24, having a suitable stalling-box 25, serves to prevent leakage.l

val vc .26 is also placed in the line of this pipe 11.

The upper end of the pipe Q0 passes through the cup 2i' and through a cap 28, which is pro vided with a stutling-box 29. At the hasev of the cup 2i' is a packing-ring 30 and suitable' packing material to prevent water from pass.

inar directly inte the cup from the cylinder 15. Holes 31 through, the pipe 20 serve as ducts for the water in its passage from the interior of-thc filtering-cylinder to the dischargepipe 19. A

Surrounding the axial pipe QOIwithin the cylinder is a. cylindrical shell 33, secured to the pipe by heads 34. This shell is suitably perforated throughout, as shown at 35, and exteriorly the shell is wrapped with felt 36 or other filtering material. Near the base of this filtering-shell the axial pipe has a closure-plug 37, so that the ozone from the ozone-receiver l0 must pass from the pipe 11 through the holes 38 and thence into the interior space of the shell 33. The pressure of the ozone in the receiver is always suicient sa n 767.195

to force the gas into the interior'of the filtering-elnunber. to be turned by means of the hand-wheel 32 at the upper end of the pipe 20, and when thus` turned the surface of the cylinder en'- gages with a vertical brush 40, fixed to the `wide wall ot' the cylinder 1 5. and in that manner the accuunilated impurities are removed from the tilter-body. 4l is opened and the impuritiea` in the cylinder l are discharged through the pipe 4Q.

The operation of the nachanism is as follows: Water enters the machine at the inletpipe 't' and flows upwardly through and between the eleetrtxles 3 4 in the electrical chamber 2, paxaing thence through the om nizingclnuulau-tl,tlie1icedownwardlythrough pipe 1*.: to the hase of the. cylinder 15, pnssf ing upwardly around the filtering-cylinder 33, containing the filtering material. The pres- `urefrmu the source of \\'ater-snpply forces the water through the filtering material 36, so that the filtered product.- finally parues through the holes .21 in the inner pipe tothe dischargwpipe 19. During the passage of water through the electrical chamber n considerablequantityofozoncisgenerated, which pasxes alo-ng with the treated water to the cylinder l5, where it immediately paaaes up through the; water on the outside of the filtering-eylimler 33, so that there is always a greater or less amount of the ozone present. inthe space lsurroumlim: the" upper end of the tiltering-cylinder. My object is to inject a portion of the ozone so generated into the interior of the filtering-cylinder 33, and to this end the ozone-receiver 10 is mounted aho\ e the ozonizing-clmmber S and connected therewith, so that the ozone will enter this receiver as fast as it is generated. Furthermore, by means of the pipe 11 1 am enabled to conrey the ozone or a due proportion of the amount generated, in; may be necessary, directly to the water within and at the base of the filtering-shell, whereby the action of the ozone is more efiicient, and' positive than if it is merely allowed to percolntc through the water on the outside of the filtering-shell.

I also call attention to the fact thatall the water within the shell 33 is filtered water, whereas the water surrounding the shell is not filtered, but has been simply electrically treated. From a baeteriological point of view I find it is very important to disseminate the ozonated air through the mass of water after as well asbefore it passes through the filtering medium, which procesa has never heretofore to my knowledge been done in an organized mechanism for purifying water, and by this means I am able practically to destroy all bacteria in water passing through the machine, as herein described. i

The invention shown is particularly applicable in the treatment of watr'containing or- 'l`his filtering-shell is adapted;

At intervals the valve gnnic matter; but in purifying water which has` little or no organic matter` but is highly impmgnated with inorganic matter, the ozoner'cceir'er and pipe l1 are not essential,

The quantity of current used to generate the ozone depends wholly or. the characterof water treated; but l tind that one-halt` :un` perevpcr gallon per hour is generally suffi cient for sterilization. The voltage may nin-ge from six to one hundred and ten. Low roltrge is preferable i'n all cases, and preasure should nerer be greater than is ncceaaary to drive the current through the water treated.

I employ `Qoluble eleetzotles, aluminium being preferable, `Qince the hydrate of ahuninium generated .from the hydrogen serres as a purifier in addition to the ozone generated t'rom the oxygen'.

I tind from extended experience that the longer the water is in contact or impregnating with ozone the more perfect is it` sterilization. This great oxidizing property of the ozone can he most `effectively used by the intimat-e admixture ofthe gas immediately after it ia generated` and to this end I provide tl means` for eompleteiv and effectively distrilr utint',r the gas through the water not only thir ing its passage through the eiectrodewaseand sterilizing-elaunher, but. also during its passage through the filter and until it emerges therefrom.

l. lnaplaufatus for the purification o f water by electricity, the combination of' anelectrical chamber having electrodes therein and immersed in the treated water and connect-ed 'up with a source of electricity, an ozonatingchamber, an ozone-receiver and a filter, connectcd together cooperatively, substantially as described.

2. 1n an apparatus for the purification of water by electricity, the combination of an electrical chamber having electrodes therein IOC) and immersed in the treated water and con- .nected up with a lsource of electricity, an

ozonating-chamber, an ozone-receiver, und a filter, said ozonnting-chamber and ozone-receiver being connected up by separate means with the filter, substantially as set forth.

' 3. In an apparatus for the purification of water by electricity, a chanber haring therein electrodes connected up in a lsuitable electric circuit, and provided at its lower end with water-pipe connections, a receiver for ozone generated within the chamber, and av filter, having means for receiving water from the electrical chamber, and a pipe connection -for receiving ozone from the ozonc-rcceiver, as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for the purification of water by electricity, an electrical chamber provided with electrodes through which the in for generating ozone, provided with an i treated water passes, and having means therei l i a .l

ozone-receiver, in combination with a. filter comprising an inner tilter and an outer containing-cylinder, the outer cylinder being connected with the wateNlischarge system of the electrical chamber, and theinner tilteringcylinder with the ozone-receiver, as herein set forth.

5. In an apparatus for the purilication of water by electricity, 'the combination of an electrical chamber having electrodes connect ed with a suitable source of electricity. an ozonating-chamber. an ozone-receiver and a tilter, menne whereby the water treated tifws upwardly through the electrical chamber and the ozonating-chamber. and thence upwardly through the tiltering-cylinder. and the ozone generated alsol paises upwardly through the ozone-receiver and lilter, as set forth.

6, In an apparatus for the puritication of water by electricity. the combination of an electrical chamber having electrodes connected with a source of' electricity, an ozonatingchamber, an Vozone-receiver, and a filter, pipe connection between the upper enti of the oz0- hating-chamber and the lowcrend ot the filter# ing-cylinder, and pipe connection with the upner end of the ozone-.receiver and the lower end of the interior liltering-cylimler, and havinirineans iu said pipe connections for regulatini.;l the flow of ozone, as set forth.

7. ln an apparatus for the purification of water by electricity, an electrical chamber having electrodes connected with a source of electricity, an mounting-chamber, and an ozone-rcceiver, in combination with a lilter comprisinir a shell containing an inner cylinder with filtering material thereon,- pipe connectionS from theozonating-chamber to the space between the lower end of the shell and the lltering-cylindcr, and n pipe with valve 'connections between the ozone-receiver andy therein suitable electrodes connected up in an electric circuit` a vertical ozonating-chamber surrounding same, an ozone-receiver above and connected with the ozonatmgwchamber,

and =a tilter operatively connected with Said ozone receiver and chamber.

9. ln an apparatus for the purification of water by electricity', a vertical shell having therein suitable electrodes connected up in an electric circuit, a vertical ozonatinv-chamber surmounting' same, an ozone-recexver above and connected with the mounting-chamber, aiilter comprising an inner and an outer cylinder. a pipe connection from the upper end of the mounting-chamber to the lower end of the outer cylinder. and a pipe connection from the upper end of. the omne-receiver to the' lower end of the interior tilteringcylinder,

vand valves in said pipe'connectionS between.

said filter and the ozone receiver antlchambcr. l0. In an apparatus' for the purification of water by electricity. an electrical chamber having soluble electrodes therein connected with a suitable source of electricity, in com bi-nation witha tiltcringylinder, and an ozonatiagchamber intermediate said electrical and filtering chambers.

11'. In apparatus for the purification of water by electrolysis, an electrical chamber having soluble. electrodes therein connected with a suitable source of electricity. in combination with a tutoring-cylinder, and an ozonating-chamher and an ozonc-receivcr intermediate vsaid electrical chamber and filteringcylinder, and connected therewith.

2. rl.`he herein-deserilwd means of purifying water whichconsists in tirst passing the water to be treated through or hetween'sol-lih-le electrodes in an electrical chamber, aec- ,ond, d i-rectingz the water thus` treated upwardly through an ozonatiiig-chamber, and impregelectrical chamber; third, conveying tlie wate'r to the exterior of the {Uterine-cilinder to remove the coagulated impurities, and fourth, conveying the surplus ozone to the interior, of the filtering-cylinder, -as set forth.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAM-ES S. ZEltBE. Witnesses: 

